Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 61.36
Liaison Elizabeth Swiman
Submission Date Jan. 30, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Florida State University
OP-10: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.50 / 2.00 Dave MacManus
Assistant Director
Grounds & Landscape Operations
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds::
Area
Total campus area 1,123.06 Acres
Footprint of the institution's buildings 93 Acres
Area of undeveloped land, excluding any protected areas 246.39 Acres

Area of managed grounds that is::
Area
Managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan 0 Acres
Managed in accordance with a sustainable landscape management program that includes an IPM plan and otherwise meets the criteria outlined 783.67 Acres
Managed organically, third party certified and/or protected 0 Acres

A copy of the IPM plan:
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The IPM plan :

The FSU Grounds department continues to work with the Leon County Extension office to develop an IPM program. Current action thresholds have been developed for cycad scale on sago palms, whiteflies on gardenias, and tea scale on camellias when populations are noted during inspection of plants. Plants are monitored each season and pests are identified. Coffee grounds are used to help prevent cycad scale and has used horticultural oils to smother scale insects. Whiteflies are controlled with insecticidal soap and horticultural oils. In the greenhouses, aphids and mites are controlled with horticultural oils and bio-rational products.


A brief summary of the institution’s approach to sustainable landscape management:

Simple approach where "pests" are allowed to do their thing naturally. Good sanitation, physical removal of infected plants, bio-rational techniques, and little to no spraying on campus are all utilized.


A brief description of how the institution protects and uses existing vegetation, uses native and ecologically appropriate plants, and controls and manages invasive species:

Native plant species are considered first in the landscape design planning process. The Grounds department works with landscape architects to protect and incorporate already existing plants as well as utilize as many native plant species as possible and where they're appropriate (considering their aesthetic qualities, suitability to light exposure, soil conditions, ultimate height, educational merit, etc). Additionally, FSU maintains certain outlying properties in their natural state, to be used for educational purposes.


A brief description of the institution’s landscape materials management and waste minimization policies and practices:

Grounds collects yard debris, limbs, and cut trees from campus to bring to the nursery to be ground into mulch that is then used again on campus.Cut grass clippings are reused on site.


A brief description of the institution’s organic soils management practices:

Removal of weed barrier fabric allows for natural decomposition and contributes to the organic components of the surrounding soil. Where feasible, natural leaf litter is left on site to decompose.


A brief description of the institution’s use of environmentally preferable materials in landscaping and grounds management:

The Grounds department utilizes numerous environmentally preferable materials, including beneficial microbes as a natural soil amendment to help in the decomposition process. Grounds are only spot fertilized a few times a year with a 15-0-15 fertilizer to reduce phosphorus runoff.


A brief description of how the institution restores and/or maintains the integrity of the natural hydrology of the campus:

This continues to be an evolving challenge because of established hydrology patterns and infrastructure but the campus is moving away from the traditional holding pond model to include more bio swales.


A brief description of how the institution reduces the environmental impacts of snow and ice removal (if applicable):

Although rare, but if needed, ice is mechanically removed and sand is utilized to reduce slippage.


A brief description of any certified and/or protected areas:

FSU properties at Alligator Point and the surrounding forest at the FSU Coastal & Marine Laboratory are kept in their natural state.


Is the institution recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Campus USA program (if applicable)?:
No

The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management programs and practices is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.